Big Meadow
Big Meadow Campground lies at about 6,400 feet elevation on the Stanislaus National Forest. It is located 21 miles east of Arnold, California. Breathtaking views abound, and wildlife viewing opportunities include marmots, squirrels, and deer.
More like this: reservable in California · big rigs in California · pets allowed in California · group sites in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 122 |
| Tent-only | 10 |
| parking | 3 |
| Group tent areas | 1 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
136 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Pets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02 | A | Standard | Back-in | 27 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 03 | A | Standard | Back-in | 27 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 04 | A | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 05 | A | Standard | Back-in | 34 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 06 | A | Standard | Back-in | 33 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 07 | A | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 08 | A | Standard | Back-in | 37 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 09 | A | Standard | Back-in | 26 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 10 | A | Standard | Back-in | 31 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 11 | A | Standard | Back-in | 36 | Gravel | Partial | No / No | 6 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 53 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
Big Meadow has 65 individual camping sites. Big Meadow Group camp is easily accessible from Highway 4 and can accommodate a maximum of 50 guests and 20 vehicles.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Forest | Stanislaus National Forest |
| Booking | Make reservations through Recreation.gov, 1-877-444-6777, International, 518-885-3639, or via their website, https://www.recreation.gov/; the camp listed on the Big Meadow Stanislaus Natl Fs page. |
| Fees | New fee prices in 2024 & 2025 $75 per night and in 2026 price increase to $100 per night. America the Beautiful pass discount not allowed on group camp reservations. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Arnold, California, take Highway 4 east for 25 miles to the Big Meadow Campground.
| Coordinates | 38.4164° N, 120.1050° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedTmu Rx Support
36 mi from the campground
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Bear Valley Adventure Company ↗ | 4.6 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 31.9 mi |
| RV sales & service | Custom Truck Accessories ↗ | 53 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Big Meadow Campground Stanislaus National Forest, CA
Worth a stop
- 5.6 miBlack Springs Ohv Area ↗OHV / range
- 5.6 miBlack Springs Ohv Campground ↗OHV / range
- 7.4 miSummit Lake/ Mud Lake Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 7.8 miSilver Valley Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 8.8 miSourgrass Day Use ↗Day use
- 11 mi
Trails nearby
- 1.3 miCalaveras Dome OHV-ATV Rt7b0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 1.5 miSpicer/Sand Flat ↗5.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.5 miHighland Creek/Wolfborro2.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.7 miCalaveras Dm OHV 4x4 Rt4c2.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
- 1.7 mi7n01g Snow Trail0.1 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski, snowcoach
- 2.2 miGanns1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Stanislaus National Forest.
- inStanislaus National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,090,354 acres
- 5.8 miMokelumne Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 104,048 acres
- 9.2 miEldorado National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 793,653 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Natural features
Big Meadow Campground is situated in Stanislaus National Forest. It is known for exceptional stargazing, remote location, spread out campsites, and large granite boulders.
Recreation
Picnicking, birding and hiking are popular pastimes at Big Meadow. Lake Alpine and Spicer Meadow Reservoir, both just a 15 minute drive away, offer fishing and other water activities.
Guidebooks for California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Big Meadow?
Sites at Big Meadow are reservable on Recreation.gov. Make reservations through Recreation.gov, 1-877-444-6777, International, 518-885-3639, or via their website, https://www.recreation.gov/; the camp listed on the Big Meadow Stanislaus Natl Fs page. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Big Meadow?
New fee prices in 2024 & 2025 $75 per night and in 2026 price increase to $100 per night. America the Beautiful pass discount not allowed on group camp reservations.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Big Meadow?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Big Meadow open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Big Meadow have?
137 sites, including 122 standard sites without power, 10 tent-only sites, 3 parking, and 1 group tent area.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Big Meadow?
The longest site here provides 53 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Big Meadow?
Yes, pets are allowed at Big Meadow. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Big Meadow?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
Is there cell service at Big Meadow?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 5G and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Big Meadow?
Picnicking, birding and hiking are popular pastimes at Big Meadow. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Big Meadow is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Stanislaus River Campground (3.2 mi, first-come), Sandy Flat (5 mi), and Spicer Reservoir Group Campground (5.7 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby